Eastern Towhee @ Tamarack SWA (Logan County)

[Tom Behnfield]

Art Hudak, Mark Chavez & I spent the day on Sunday at Tamarack SWA and environs. The highlight of the day was an Eastern Towhee way out on the west side. During one of our numerous stops scanning for Dicksissel (which we didn't find until we stopped at Merino (Logan County) on the way home,) one of us spotted an unusually black and unspotted Towhee. 

We studied the bird for quite a while while trying, mostly in vain, to get good photographic evidence. The bird had a very black back, and a lack of the spots seen on the Spotted Towhee. One of my photos is attached. I'm pretty sure Mark got decent shots, as he usually does.

Other sightings included Great-crested Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Indigo Bunting, Bell's Vireo, Northern Bobwhite, Upland Sandpiper, Field Sparrow, lots of Orchard Orioles, and even more Red-headed Woodpeckers.

Good birding,

Tom Behnfield

Lakewood, CO

behn...@q.com